226 . PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



purity and joy of Iowa life at its best. Has the Iowa community great or 

 small, any interest in all this? And should it have any? 



Have we any interest? Well*, yes, a little. We all like to gather arm- 

 loads of flowers. The children delight in them. And in my home town 

 of Grinnell there is a pretty custom of keeping a big pail or crock of 

 autumn flowers on the front porch, enjoyed alike by housemates and by 

 passers-by. The autumn flowers keep well and are admirably adapted for 

 this purpose. But "trade's unfeeling train usurp the land and dispossess" 

 the wild flowers. There is not within twenty miles of Grinnell an inch of 

 ground uncultivated or untouched by men or stock. The result is that 

 the native prairie flora has almost disappeared. Once the ground is 

 cropped, the old wild plants never get hold again. Even the railroad 

 banks are mowed and burned during the summer, and the roadsides are 

 mostly trimmed. Two small parcels of ground a mile from town, too dry 

 and rough for cultivation, have a fair showing of native plants, but these 

 are usually mowed in August. Weeds and waste places we still have, it is 

 true, but they are all like ourselves, immigrants from Europe. Not one 

 of our siplendid native plants even offers to become a weed. They give 

 up the struggle at once. Indeed so reduced is the native vegetation here- 

 abouts, that Grinnell College was compelled perforce to establish a small 

 botanic garden, where at least a specimen plant of the native species can 

 be had for study and acquaintance. We hope and long for the day when 

 our facilities in this line can be really adequate. 



Now many of our citizens would admit that the obliteration of the na- 

 tive flora is regrettable. And many enjoy and admire our little botanic 

 garden. But no individual could be expected to set aside a portion of 

 his farm as a public wild flower garden. The wild garden and park can 

 never be, except as a community project. But so far as I am aware, no 

 one has ever thought out loud proposing such a public property. Of 

 course, the college has often thought of it, and desired it. And mean- 

 while, the wild plants are practically gone. If there exists any com- 

 munity interest, it is merely a spark which might, however, be fanned 

 into an effectual flame. 



But should we really have a community interest in this matter? In 

 considering such a question, it must first be remembered that whatsoever 

 benefits the individuals of the community is a community interest. Many 

 individual affairs of quite personal nature are fostered by community ac- 

 tion and interest. A community may by concerted action make or un- 

 make a local creamery or canning factory or grain elevator company. 

 And yet, these activities are apparently plain business propositions, for 

 the profit of the owners or stockholders. But because they benefit the 

 community and are dependent on the good will and co-operation of the 

 community, the community takes concerted action to maintain them. 

 Now if this community interest is necessary to maintain businesses which 

 are in themselves financially profitable, much more must the community 

 maintain those interests which it needs but which do not bring in a return 

 in money. Generally speaking, then, interests may be monetary or non- 

 paying. In the latter class are the public service necessities, such as 

 water supply, sewage system, and garbage disposal, the means of public 



